Lake Ontario Bass

[SinDale]

The last few years, the invasion of gobies has decimated the smallmouth population, or so it would seem. However, I've found that they are coming back, and getting larger! I've heard people say they are getting personal bests this year, and the few times I've made it out there myself, I've seen bigger averages than ever!

Anyone finding the same?

Attached is a decent 18" smallie taken near Braddocks Bay at "The Hump"

[J Francho]

I noticed a down slide, but I don't think its exclusively due to gobies.  The lake is changing and so is the forage base, so things are in flux.  I'm catching good numbers and even better size class this summer.  I don't know if there will 100 fish days like there were in the early 90s, but it isn't all that bad.  Many of the fish I've caught have gobies (and big gobies at that) in their craw.  That should be a big clue as to how to fish for them.  Big tubes have worked consistently for me lately, though other baits catch them as well.  

[SinDale]

Are you finding any concentrations of them? Last weekend, we had a very   spread out morning. We didn't catch any back to back fish, where I can remember years ago usually where theres one, theres more. I'm a big fan of tubes too, and plastic crayfish. I haven't explored too far from Braddocks. Any other locations around Monroe County you'd suggest for smallmouth?

[J Francho]

Yes, and they are on significant pieces of structure.  I'm mainly fishing in Wayne County - haven't been out in the lake by Braddock's.  I also find fish near bait balls, but its difficult to follow them in my rig.  I'm targeting fish that are eating crayfish or gobies on the bottom.

There are troughs created by wave action in depth intervals, like 14-18 feet and then again at 20-25 feet, and so on, with a gradual flat in between.  I've found fish by switch the sonar to narrow angle beam (200mHz) and looking for small isolated weed beds or rockpiles.  

Once I move over them, I mark a waypoint, and then determine the best angle to drift through, creating a another waypoint for the start of the drift.  I'm fishing from a big kayak, so a drift sock is required equipment.  I would think the same is true for a larger boat as well.

All that said, last Saturday, I ran drifts (this time in a friends boat) for a few hours, but came up with nothing.  Feast or famine!  That day, the wind was out of the south though, and I've had trouble catching in those conditions.

If its a fairly calm day, I'll anchor up and drop shot or use jigging spoons vertically, but in general drifting tubes is the most relaxing for me.

Good luck - I hope that helps.